The Playlist: Women of Rock

They were women in a male-dominated industry. They broke barriers and helped pave the road for those that followed. They made it possible for the Britney Spears, Fergies, and Pinks of the world to have a career in mainstream music.

Here are just a few of my favorite 'women of rock' over the past 30 years.

Blondie - Call Me (1980)

Nominated for a Golden Globe for its use in the Richard Gere film 'American Gigolo,' it was the top-selling song of the year and ranks today as No. 283 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. In recent years, the song has been covered by the likes of Garbage, No Doubt and even the Chipmunks. As a side note, Stevie Nicks was originally asked to help compose the song but declined, which led to lead singer Debbie Harry getting the opportunity.



A live cover of the song by No Doubt, Garbage, and the Distillers:



Garbage - Only Happy When It Rains (1995)

One of my favorite bands since high school, Garbage had the world take notice when they released their self-title debut album and gained even more attention and acclaim with 1998's Version 2.0. This song, the second of five singles from their first album, is considered their breakthrough hit and has been used on such TV programs as 'The X-Files,' 'Homicide: Life on the Street,' and in ads for the program, 'Crossing Jordan.' According to lead singer Shirley Manson, "It's ... a song about wanting love, but knowing that life will always get in the way, and of knowing that, and yet not being obliterated by that."



Stevie Nicks - Edge of Seventeen (1982)

Written as a response to her uncle's death and the killing of John Lennon during the same week, the lead singer of Fleetwood Mac released the song as her third single from her solo debut, Bella Donna. The track reached No. 11 on Billboard's Hot 100 and peaked at No. 4 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart. Fans too young to be familiar with Nicks or Fleetwood Mac might know the song for being covered by Lindsay Lohan and the guitar riff being used for Destiny Child's hit 'Bootylicious,' in which Nicks makes a cameo in the music video.



Bonnie Raitt - I Can't Make You Love Me (1991)

I don't know if there is a more vulnerable song out there. It's long been a favorite of mine but I can't listen to it too often without feeling the urge for an alcoholic drink. It was a Top 20 hit for the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, who has since noted the song can be difficult to perform live.
"I mean, 'I Can't Make You Love Me' is no picnic," Raitt has said. "I love that song, so does the audience. So it's almost a sacred moment when you share that, that depth of pain with your audience. Because they get really quiet, and I have to summon ... some other place in order to honor that space."



Alanis Morissette - You Oughta Know (1995)

Who here was scared of Alanis after this song came out? Let's see some hands. I'm right there with you. Her debut single helped get her tagged as an angry white female but subsequent singles from the hugely successful Jagged Little Pill helped soften her image. And there's been much speculation over the years as to who exactly she's singing about in the song. Although it hasn't been proven, the general consensus is Dave Coulier, of 'Full House' and 'America's Funniest People' fame. To that I say (insert hand signs here) Cut it out, Uncle Joey.



There’s my list - what’s yours? Shoot me an e-mail at grahamcawthon@shelbystar.com or post here on the blog and it might end up featured in a future column.